Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sterle, who I know has been a long-time supporter of the rights of blue-collar workers in our country. It's a pleasure to work with you on that, Senator Sterle.

Put simply, the Albanese government wants Australia to be a country that makes things again. That's why we're working hard to secure a future made in Australia. At the core of that vision are the talented tradies and the regional and outer suburban communities that support them. We can't achieve a future made in Australia without our amazing chippies, sparkies, fitters and other tradespeople. Our manufacturing and construction industries are growing, and now they employ more than two million Australians, including more than 235,000 new jobs since the election of our government. Manufacturing and construction workers from across Australia—those who make our homes, steel, medicines, food, furniture and everything in between—deserve a government that values them and has their back. Labor's tax cuts demonstrate that we are that government.

Our tradies are the backbone of our manufacturing and construction industry, and under the Albanese Labor government they will all be getting a tax cut. Labor's tax cuts will mean that an entry-level plumber making $56,000 a year will get a tax cut of more than $1,000. And let's look at another vital trade, Australia's welders. Under Labor's cost-of-living tax cuts, a welder helping to build Australian products and making $83,000 a year will get a tax cut of $1,754. And how about those hardworking sparkies? An electrician earning $93,000 will get a tax cut of more than $2,000. Australian tradies can bank on Labor to help them earn more and keep more of what they earn. This government is helping Australian manufacturing and construction businesses to grow, and we're supporting manufacturing and construction workers and tradies to prosper.